Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On Horseback
Options for horseback riding are abundant. Most tour op-
erators offer half- to full-day trips, but quality varies from
outfitter to outfitter. This is an area where you definitely
get what you pay for. A good half-day price is about $20.
Many tours loop around Baños along the hiking trails mentioned
above. Others travel deeper into the countryside and are a bit more
enjoyable. Make sure you know what you are paying for - i.e., a good,
healthy horse with a saddle and stirrups that fit properly. If you want
to really help the locals, stay away from the higher-priced outfitters
and hire a communitymember who has a good horse and offers horse-
back-riding services. They'll be happy to show you around and often
can use your business. Be wary, though, of poorly kept animals.
Hostal Isla de Baños
, Halflants 1-31 and Montalvo,
3-740-609,
offers high-quality half- and multi-day horseback riding trips suit-
able for all experience levels. Their horses are in good shape. Alterna-
tively, try
Ángel Aldaz
, Montalvo and J.L. Mera,
3-740-175. He
charges about $10 per half-day ride without a guide, a bit more with
one. Otherwise, inquire within the numerous tour agencies and oper-
ators that line the streets of Baños.
Geotours
offers a quality horse-
back riding trip (see
Rafting
, page 192, for more about them).
On Wheels
Mountain Biking (& Hiking) from Baños to Puyo
For years now, the bike ride along the
Río Pastaza Can-
yon
on the road fromBaños to Puyo has been popular with
foreign travelers. In fact, this ride, along with Cotopaxi, is
what put scenic mountain biking on Ecuador's map. From
Baños, the dirt road descends gradually toward Puyo and the upper
Amazon Basin. The southern edge of the road drops off immediately,
well over 1,000 feet in some places, and provides spectacular views of
the Río Pastaza deep within the narrow gorge. On the opposite side of
the gorge is a great expanse of beautiful, untouched cloud forest,
small patches of steep farmland, and towering waterfalls.
Many bikers take a few moments away from the saddle to hike down
to the
Pailón del Diablo
, or the Devil's Cauldron. Park (and lock)
your bike at the village of Río Verde near the marked trailhead and
enjoy the easy descent to the suspension bridge above the river. From
the bridge you'll have a good view of an impressive waterfall. To get
closer to the falls, follow a side-trail up and through private property.
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